Rotatable packer



July 4, 1939. J. w. McCLATCHiE ROTATABLE PACKER Filed Dec. 28, 1936 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,164,857 ROTATABLE PAOKER ration of California Application December 28, 1936, Serial No. 117,857

Claims.

This invention is a packer for sealing between a well string and surrounding well casing, and it is the object of the invention to adapt the packer for rotation with the well string, thereby par- 5 ticularly adapting it'for use in connection with a well string of that type which forms a usual drill string for rotary drilling, with the rotatable packer adapted for sealing engagement with any portion of the well string, and adapted to maintain the seal while the well string is being moved' through the packer.

The invention is thus particularly applicable to drilling under pressure, in that the packer is readily deformable for sealing engagement at the 5 kelly of a drill string and is rotatable with the kelly while maintaining the seal so as to form a drilling head permitting rotation and longitudinal movement of the drill string while sealing the well against escape of pressure, and the packer 20 is adapted to yield sufficiently to permit passage of coupling collars and the like while maintaining the seal and is deformable to conform to and seal off at the different portions of a drill string which are of varying size and cross-sectional con- 5 tour, so as to permit the drill string being inserted and withdrawn while sealing the well against escape of pressure. The invention thus provides a combination drilling head and blowout preventer, sealing the well at the kelly while drilling,

30 and also sealing the well while the drill string is being inserted and withdrawn, and thus maintaining a seal at all times and against any well pressure which may be encountered, and which may be simply a desired pressure maintained in 35 the well for drilling under pressure or which may be any excessively high pressure resulting from increase in the formation pressure of th well.

It is a further object of the invention to adapt 40 the rotatable packer for sealing engagement responsive to pressure fluid, with the pressure fluid supplied from a source external of the well so that it may be controlled for maintaining such sealing engagement by the packer as will pre- 45 vent escape of well pressure while permitting movement of a well string through the packer, and with the mounting which adapts the packer for rotation including a. connection whereby the pressure fluid may be supplied to the rotatable 50 packer from a stationary conduit which leads to an external source of supply.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a mounting for the rotatable packer adapting it forlateral play with relation to the 55 stationary .well casing, for alining the packer with the well string irrespective of usual alinement of the well string in the well casing; with the connection which supplies pressure fluid from an external source maintaining communication irrespective of such lateral play of the rotatable packer.

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention, partly in axial section.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The packer is adapted for sealing engagement with a well string which is received in usual well casing, and is adapted for rotation with the well string. For this purpose the packer is preferably mounted in a housing, for rotation with the housing which is preferably journaled on a body 2 which may be mountedon the well casing 3 by a threaded connection 4. The body 2 has a bore 5 forming a prolongation of the bore of the well casing, with lateral outlets 6 preferably communicating with the bore 5..

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the housing forms an annular chamber of greater diameter than the bore of the well casing and adapted to receive the packer; packer; is an annular packer having a bore adapted for contraction to engage a well string which extends through the housing and into the well bore, or adapted for expansion so as to form an unobstructed prolongation of the bore of the well casing.

The packer and its housing may be of the'type disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 112,745, filed November 25, 1936; and as an instance of this arrangement the housing may be a two-part housing Ill-ll having its parts flanged as shown at l2 and connected by bolts l3, with packing I 4 preferably provided at the abutting surfaces of the flanges. The assembled housing forms an annular chamber or enlargement of appreciably greater diameter than the bore 5, and annular flanges l5 project longitudinally of the housing and toward one another from the respective ends of this annular enlargement, with the bores I6 of the flanges preferably substantially in prolongation of the bore 5, and with the flanges preferablyv integral with the housing. The assembled housing has an inner surface I! defining its annular enlargement, preferably curving inwardly toward the respective ends of the housing and merging into the and the radially outer surfaces of the longitudinally extending annular flanges l5.

The packer 20 which is mounted in the annular enlargement of the housing is shown as an annulus of resilient packing matter such as rubber or the like. This annulus has an outer periphery longitudinally curved to correspond to the curved surface l1, and has a bore 22, counterbored at its ends as shown. at 23, so that when the resilient packing annulus is mounted in the housing, and is in its normal position as shown at Fig. 1, its bore 22 is substantially in prolongation of the bores 16 of the annular flanges IS, with these annular flanges extending into the counterbores 23 at the ends of the packing annulus, and with the walls of the counterbores preferably appreciably spaced radially outwardly fromthe flanges IS.

The outer periphery of the packer is annularly recessed medially of the length of. the packer as shown at 24, and this recess is preferably undercut at its upper and lower sides to form lips 25. Pressure fluid is exerted in the annular recess 24 for contracting the bore of the packer to its operative sealing position which is shown by broken lines at Fig. 1, and the fluid pressure may be supplied via a conduit 26 which is preferably formed in the housing H and which communicates with a stationary supply conduit 21 which leads to any suitable external source of pressure fluid. The pressure fluid is preferably that of a liquid such as water, and the supply conduit 21 is provided with a suitable valvular control (not shown) whereby pressure fluid may be conducted in the annular recess 24 for operatively contracting the bore of the packer, or may be exhausted from the annular recess to permit the resiliency of the packer returning it to its normal inoperative position.

The pressure fluid which is supplied to the annular recess 24, flexes the lips 25 for sealing contact with the curved surface l1, and then swings the longitudinal end portions of the packer so that they move along the curved surface I1 and annularly contract in accordance with the inherent compressibility of the packer material, until arrested by their abutment against the flanges IS. The pressure fluid then radially inwardly expands that portion of the packer which defines its bore 22, so that for some appreciable length medially thereof the bore of the packer radially contracts for sealing around any well string extending through the bore of the packer and into the bore of the well casing.

The well string which is sealed off may be a usual drill string comprising coupled lengths of drill pipe 30, with a keliy 3| which is preferably of usual polygonal cross-sectional contour connected to the upper end of the drill pipe by a coupling 32. When the bore of the packer is operatively contracted it is adapted for such distortion as to seal around the drill string at any portion thereof, e. g. either at the tubular drill pipe or its polygonal kelly, or at the enlarged couplings which connect the various sections of the drill string, or where the different diameters and cross-sectional contours of the drill string meet one another, and the packer is adapted to maintain the seal by readily conforming to the changing diameter and crosssectional contour of different portions of the drill string, while the latter is moved longitudinally through the packer.

When the packer seals against the cross-sectionally polygonal kelly 3|, rotation of the drill string rotates the packer with the kelly' while permitting longitudinal movement of the keliy through the packer, and the housing ill-ll turns with the rotating packer, being journaled on the body 2. As an instance of this arrangement the lower end of the housing ll may be flanged as shown at 40, with this flange journaled on a cooperating bearing flange 4i of the body 2, and a longitudinally projecting annular flange 42 at the outer periphery of the flange 4! may support a diametrically split flange 43 which overlies the flange 40. Anti-friction bearings are preferably provided between the flanges 404| as shown at 44 between the flanges 40-43 as shown at 45, and between the peripheral surfaces of the flanges 4042 as shown at 46.

The housing |0I i is thus adapted for rotation relative to the body 2 while securely held against longitudinal displacement, and is preferably free for some lateral play so that the packer 2!! which is mounted in and rotates with the housing may aline with the drill string or other object which it is to pack off, irrespective of any misalignment of the drill string in the well casing 3. For this purpose the flange 40 and the surrounding longitudinally projecting annular flange 42 are of such relative diameter that a radial space is provided between their peripheral surfaces when the housing Ill-ll is concentric with the bore of the well casing, thereby permitting lateral play of the rotatable housing, limited by the periphery of the flange 40 engaging the anti-friction bearings 46.

The conduit 26 which is formed in the housing I l, maintains communication with the stationary conduit 21 during rotation of the housing l0-l i, irrespective of lateral play of the rotatable housing. As an instance of this arrangement the conduit 26 communicates with an annular channel in the bearing face of the flange 40, and the conduit 21 communicates with a conduit 210. which is formed in the flange 4| and which extends to the bearing face of said flange in alinement with the channel 50. The channel 50 is of a width to maintain communication with the conduit 21a irrespective of lateral play of the housing Ill-l II.

Suitable packing is preferably provided between the rotating and non-rotating elements, and may comprise hydraulic packing 5| between the flanges 404l, preferablyadjacent and operatively expanded by pressure in the bore 5l6, together with a split packing ring 52 at the inner periphery of the flange 43 and operatively engaging the flange 40. Hydraulic packing is preferably also provided between the flanges 404|, at the re-- spective sides of the channel 50 so as to prevent escape of the pressure fluid which is supplied via the conduit 21a, and is shown at 53, adapted for operative expansion by the pressure fluid in the conduit 21a.

The invention thus provides means for packing off any well string which may be received in the well casing 3, with the packer adapted for sealing engagement responsive to external pressure fluid and adapted to pack off any portion of the well string and to maintain the seal while permitting movement of the well string through the packer, with the packer adapted for rotation with the well string which it packs off and also adapted for lateral play relative to the stationary well casing, while maintaining a connection whereby pressure fluid may be supplied to the rotatable packer from a stationary conduit leading to an external source of supply.

I claim: I

1. In combination, a well casing adapted to receive a well string for reciprocation and/or rotation therein, a structure mounted on said casing with a pressure fluid recess there around for re-' and having an opening therethrough-in substantial continuation of the well casing bore, said structure forming at itsupper side an annular supporting base, a housing for a packer having a supporting flange around its lower side, said annular base having bearing surfaces engaging opposite faces of said housing flange for securing the flange and the housing against displacement axially but permitting free rotation of the housing on the base around the casing bore as an axis there being anti-frictional bearings at each of said bearing surfaces, said housing forming an enlarged diameter continuation of. the casing bore, an annular packer of the pressure fluid expansible type mounted and confined in said housing against axial displacement and having a bore therethrough in continuation of the casing bore, said packer being adapted to surround a Well string extending therethrough and in its non-sealing and inactive position being completely disengaged'and free from a well string whereby said packer remains stationary during rotation of the well string, said packer being projectible by pressure fluid into a position engaged with and sealing completely around the well string whereby rotation of the latter rotates said packer and housing as a unit, with thepacker in sealing engagement with the well string, a pressure fluid supply port in the upper face of said supporting base, an annular pressure fluid chamber around said flange opening through the lower face thereof, in alignment with said supply port whereby said port is in constant communication with said chamber as the housing is rotated on said base, and said housingbeing provided with a'pressure fluid passage from said annular chamber to the expansible packer mounted in said housing for supplying pressure fluid to said packer to project the same into sealing engagement with the well string.

2. In combination, a well casing adapted to receive a well string for reciprocation and/or rotation therein, a structure mounted on said casing and having an opening therethrough in substantial continuation of the well casing bore, the upper side of said structure providing an annular supporting base, a housing for a packer having a radially disposed supporting flange around its lower side, said annular base having bearing surfaces engaging opposite faces of said housing flange and a bearing surface normally spaced from and around the peripheral face of said flange for securing the flange and housing against displacement axially but permitting lateral adjustment of the flange and housing-relative to the base, and the casing bore, there being anti-frictional bearings at each'of said bearing surfaces whereby said housing is adapted for free rotation on the base around the casing bore as an axis, said housing forming an enlarged diameter continuation of the casing bore, an annular packer of the pressure fluid expansible type mounted and confined in said housing against axial displacement and having a bore therethrough in continuation of the casing bore, said packer being adapted to surround a well string extending therethrough and in its non-sealing and inactive position being completely disengaged and free from a well string whereby said packer remains stationary during rotation of the well string, said packer being projectible by pressure fluid into a position engaged with and sealing completely around the well string whereby rotation of the latter rotates said packer and housing as a unit, said packer being provided ceiving pressure fluid-to expand the packer, a pressure fluid supply port in said supporting base, an annular pressure fluid chamberaround said housing supporting flange in constant communication with said supply port asthe flange is rotated with the housing, and said housingbeing provided with a pressure fluid passage therein from said annular chamber of the flange to and in communication with the pressure fluid recess in said packer.

3. In combination, a well casing adapted to receive a well string for reciprocation and/or rotation therein, a structure mounted on said casing and having an opening therethrough in substantial continuation of the well casing bore, said structure forming at its upper side an annular supporting base, a housing for a packer having a supporting flange around its lower side, said annular base having bearing surfaces engaging opposite faces of said housing flange for securing the flange and the housing against displacement axially but permitting free rotation of the housing on the base around the casing bore as an axis, there being anti-frictional bearings at each of said bearing surfaces, said housing forming an enlarged diameter continuation of the casing bore, an annular packer of the pressure fluid expansible type mounted and confined in said housing against axial displacement and having a bore therethrough in continuation of the casing bore, said packer being projectible by pressure fluid into a position sealing completely around the well string, said packer and housing being rotatable as a unit with the well string, a pressure fluid supply port in the upper face of said supporting base, an annular pressure fluid chamber around said flange opening through the lower face thereof in alignment with said supply port whereby said port is in constant communication with said chamber as the housing is rotated on said base, and said housing being provided with a pressurefluid passage from said annular chamber to the expansible packer mounted in said housing for supplying 1 pressure fluid to said packer to project the same into sealing engagement with the well string.

4. In combination, a well casing adapted to receive a well string for reciprocation and/or rotation therein, a structure mounted on said casing and having an opening therethrough in substantial continuation of the well casing bore, the upper side of said structure providing an annular supporting base, a housing for a packer having a radially disposed supporting flange around its lower side, said annular base having bearing surfaces engaging opposite faces of said housing flange and a bearing surface normally spaced from and around the peripheral face,of said flange'for securing the flange and housing against displacement axially but permitting lateral adjustment of the flange and housing relative to the base and the casing bore, there being antifrictional bearings at each -of said bearing surfaces whereby said housing is adapted for free rotation on the base around the casing bore as an axis, said housing forming an enlarged diameter continuation of the casing bore, an annular packer of the pressure fluid expansible type mounted and confined in said housing against axial displacement, and having a bore therethrough in continuation of the casing bore, said packer being projectible by pressure fluid into a position sealing completely around the well string and being rotatable with said housing as a unit, by rotation of the well string, said packer being provided with a pressure fluid recess there around for receiving pressure fluid to expand and project the'packer, a pressure fluid supply port in said supporting base, an annular pressure fluid chamber around said housing supporting flange in constant communication with said supply port as the flange is rotated with the housing, and said housing being provided with a pressure fluid passage therein from said annular chamber of the flange to and in communciation with the pressure fluid recess in said packer.

5. In combination, a well casing adapted to receive a well string for reciprocation and/or rotation therein, a structure mounted on said casing and having an opening therethrough in substantial continuation of the well casing bore, the upper side of said structure providing an annular supporting base, 'a housing for a packer having a radially disposed supporting flange around its lower side, said annular base having bearing surfaces engaging opposite faces of said housing flange and a bearing surface normally spaced from and around the peripheral face of said flange for securing the flange and housing against displacement axially but permitting lateral adjustment of the flange and housing relative to the base and the casing bore, whereby said housing is adapted for free rotation on the base around the casing bore as an axis, said housing forming an enlarged diameter continuation of the casing bore, an annular packer of the pressure fluid expansible type mounted and conflned in said housing against axial displacement and having a bore therethrough in continuation of the casing bore, said packer being adapted to surround a well string extending therethrough and in its non-sealing and inactive position being completely disengaged and free from a well string whereby said packer remains stationary during rotation of the well casing, said packer having a pressure fluid recess there around for receiving pressure fluid to project the packer into position engaged with and sealing completely around the well string whereby rotation of the latter rotates said packer and housing as a unit, said housing supporting flange being provided with a fluid pressure chamber therein, said housing being provided with a pressure fluid passage therein from said chamber to and in communication with the pressure fluid recess in said packer, and means on said supporting base for supplying pressure fluid to the pressure fluid chamber of said housing supporting flange in all positions of the latter.

JOHN'- W. MliccLATcmE, 

